CONGRESS,

WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORTS ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF RED LAKE, MINN., AND RED LAKE RIVER FROM ITS OUTLET AT RED LAKE TO ITS JUNCTION WITH THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT GRAND FORKS, N. DAK., WITH A VIEW TO DEVISING PLANS FOR REGULATING WORKS WHEREBY THE LEVEL OF SAID LAKE AND THE FLOW OF SAID STREAM MAY BE CONTROLLED IN THE INTEREST OF NAVIGATION, ETC.

MAY 28, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustrations.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 27, 1919.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated March 28 last, together with report by Lieut. Col. Edward H. Schulz, Corps of Engineers, dated February 3, 1917, and report by Mr. George W. Freeman, assistant engineer in charge, dated February 27, 1919, with maps, on a preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of Red Lake, Minn., and Red Lake River from its outlet at Red Lake to its junction with the Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Dak., made by them. in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved July 27, 1916.

Very respectfully,

NEWTON D. BAKER,
Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, March 28, 1919.

From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army.
To: The Secretary of War.
Subject: Preliminary examination and survey of Red Lake, Minn.,
etc.

1. There are submitted herewith for transmission to Congress report, dated February 3, 1917, by Lieut. Col. Edward H. Schulz, Corps of Engineers, and report, dated February 27, 1919, with maps, by Mr. George W. Freeman, assistant engineer in charge, on preliminary examination and survey, respectively, authorized by the following item contained in the river and harbor act approved July 27, 1916:

Red Lake, Minn., and Red Lake River from its outlet at Red Lake to its junction with the Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Dak., with a view to devising plans for regulating works whereby the level of said lake and the flow of said stream may be controlled in the interest of navigation, and in making such examination and survey any proposition by local interests for participation in the expense of said project shall be taken into consideration.

2. Red Lake is situated in the northwesterly part of the State of Minnesota and has an area of 441 square miles. Red Lake River rises in Red Lake and flows for a distance of 193 miles to its junction with the Red River of the North at Grand Forks. In Red Lake there is ample depth for navigation, and the upper and lower sections of Red Lake River are navigable, but between these sections is a stretch of 96.5 miles from the dam at Thief River Falls to Fisher, which is unnavigable. In the upper part of the river the slope is flat, and on account of the tendency of obstructions to form, the capacity of the channel is inadequate to carry even the normal high-water discharge without overflowing the banks and spreading over the adjacent meadows. Large areas of contiguous meadow lands of great potential value are more or less overflowed annually, which renders their development a hazardous financial undertaking. The river has been used extensively in the past for the driving of logs, and many of these have lodged in the bed of the stream below Red Lake, cutting off the flow at low water and impeding navigation by such launches as occasionally use the river. The driving of logs has ceased, and commercial navigation is confined to the handling of farm produce and supplies, which are carried in small launches. The commerce has averaged about 300 tons per year during the last 10 years. With the river improved, the district engineer believes that it would average at least 750 tons, and on this basis he estimates that the United States would be justified in contributing $15,000 toward the cost of a suitable improvement in the interests of navigation. There are other interests, however, which are more concerned in the proposed improvement than navigation. These include drainage and flood control, water power, and domestic (municipal) water supply.

3. The district engineer presents a plan of improvement providing for deepening and straightening the upper 45 miles of the river and constructing controlling works at the outlet of the lake. The estimated cost of the proposed improvement is $779,000, which would be increased to $857,000 if a lock becomes necessary. If no controlling dam is built the channel capacity would have to be increased, and